My Second Tyranena ‘Beer Run’ This Time With a Hangover

Decided to run the “Half Barrel” (13.10938 miles) again this year. The “Half Barrel” is a half-marathon in brewery terms. And although it’s a “beer run,” I don’t recommend getting drunk the night before, but oh well; it was still a fun run! Additionally, when you’re fully hydrated from the night before you can skip all the water stations while running backwards. This year I ran the race with a friend. It sure was a lot of fun and kept me on my feet for the first half of the race. The first six miles or so was an absolute nightmare! I don’t drink that much because I always like to have my wits, but against my better judgment I thought I’d have a few the night before. I’ve always heard that it’s good to have a few the night before a race; you know, for the carbs (carbohydrates) and such.(?) However, a few turned into well after midnight and drunk!  The race started out well, or so I thought. Within a few hundred meters I was feeling ill, to put it lightly. Little Missy, my running partner kept me moving at whatever pace she was running because, well, she just did! Until just before mile six when I almost lost the beer, coffee, oatmeal, the orange, GU Energy Gel, multiple flavors of Gatorades, and bananas from earlier! After that little hiccup and a farmer blow later, I got my mojo back! From then on I was happy go lucky, and actually felt like a rabbit or better yet a killer mountain lion. Nevertheless, I was mirthfully content with running a pace just a bit fast than Missy’s to keep Missy motivated. Besides, I wasn’t going to leave her after she backpacked me through the first half. However, by about the twelve mile I beelined it and passed a bunch of folks on the way to the finish line. What's more, it must've enticed Missy to pick it up because she finished like a minute after me. In fact, as soon as I crossed the finish line I doubled back to lend some moral support (if she needed it), but much to my surprise she was damn near on my heels! All in all, at the end Missy said I was almost discouraging with my running backwards in front of her while taking pictures, talking on the phone, updating Facebook, etc.. Well, I hope that I was more of an encouragement than a discouragement because she did run a PB (personal best) for the half-marathon. Hell of a good run Missy; Congrats on your awesome run time! My overall place: 287 out of 859 Missy’s overall place: 321 out of 859 My official time: 1:53:11  Missy’s official time: 1:54:27 Tyranena Beer Run 2010 Results My ‘Beer Run’ Blog Post From Last Year Gotta run, Chris P.S. Chillaxin with some Honey Blondes tonight! P.P.S. Throughout the run bystanders rattled cowbells, and no matter how many times I proclaimed: “I don’t have any change!” They just wouldn’t stop; besides, how many runners even have pockets? Seriously, what the … More Cowbell

Activity Category: Running   Location: Stoughton, WI   Date: 06 Nov 10   Time: 11:31 AM Performance Distance: 13.36 miles   Time: 1:53:13 Speed: 7.1 mph Pace: 8:28 /mi Calories: 1,974

Weather: Clear   43 °F temp; 35% humidity   17 °F dew point; winds 1.8 West

Map

Elevation (ft)

Pace (min/mile)

Splits

Weather

Permit to Pickup Roadside Trash $75 Running Permit Priceless

No good deed goes unpunished. Nevertheless, I ran into an older gentleman on a bicycle picking up trash as he rode down a long country road. I pulled my left headphone out as I approached him and slowed to a jog. I then said: "Picking up trash?" He replied with sort of a mumble, and an empty pack of Marlboros at the end of his trash grabber: "Yeah, mostly empty cigarette packs and beer cans. Someone’s gotta pick ‘em all up." I was running backwards at that point and said: "Thank you, Sir, and keep it up; I appreciate it!" Well, I sure hope he doesn't get in trouble with the local constable for picking up trash without the proper permit! And these days you just never know what frivolous ordinances that you could be breaking! Gotta run, Chris

Activity Category: Running   Location: Stoughton, WI   Date: 02 Nov 10   Time: 3:30 PM Performance Distance: 5.51 miles   Time: 47:48 Speed: 6.9 mph Pace: 8:41 /mi Calories: 813

Weather: Clear   52 °F temp; 41% humidity   29 °F dew point; winds 2mph South

Map

Elevation (ft)

Pace (min/mile)

Splits

I Think I Know What the Persians Felt Like as They Smashed into the Spartans at Thermopylae Pass!

Well, at least without the spears being thrust at me, that is. These straight-line winds drew tears from my eyes and even blew me right off the sidewalk a few times! I had to dig really deep, just to stay under 8mm's!!! And that's with the wind to my back for half the run! Powerful Windstorm Hits Wisconsin Gotta run, Chris

Activity Category: Running   Location: Stoughton, WI   Date: 27 Oct 10   Time: 4:57 PM Performance Distance: 2.19 miles   Time: 17:30 Speed: 7.5 mph Pace: 7:59 /mi Calories: 324

Weather: WINDY   46 °F temp; 50% humidity   28 °F dew point; winds 31.1 mph from the West

Map

Elevation (ft)

Pace (min/mile)

Splits

10-slow-as-hell-miles on a Dark and Eerily Quiet Country Road, but What a Rush Given the Recent Cougar Sighting

The old adage that “It's always darkest before the dawn.” was true last night. Took my run this morning just before dawn and could barely see the road. I’m quite good at adapting my eyes to the darkness, so it’s no bull____ that it was dark as hell. I could’ve really used a pair of NVGs and seriously would’ve worn  them! (Yes, I know what it’s like to wear them, I’ve worn them every night for weeks at a time!) But I don’t have any so NVGs are irrelevant. However, the next time I run in the dead of the night with absolutely no moon light, I’ll be bringing my Surefire, for sure! In the past I usually only run country roads at night in the winter because it gets dark so early. But in the winter the blanket of white snow makes it easy to see, even with little to no moon light. However, it’s so relaxing that I’m going to make this a habit. This mornings run was mostly peaceful and at the pace I was chuggin’ along at, I could’ve ran forever! However, at about 4-miles into my ‘peaceful’ run and about 4-miles into the middle of nowhere. I totally spooked some larger animal[s], and it caught me slightly of guard. Nonetheless, my Mark I tactical knife was in my hand in the blink of an eye, and I held her tight for a minute or two. All I heard was rummaging through the corn and/or trees? What's more, I’m not sure if it was corn or trees because I could hardly see my own feet! It sounded as if it started in corn and ran parallel to me for about 10 meters, at which point I growled loudly and broke contact! I still don’t know for sure if I felt like prey or a predator at that point? But either way if it wasn’t deer I wasn’t going down without fighting tooth and nail like a dog. Even though I’m not afraid of mountain lions whatsoever, as this photo clearly shows. Cougar sightings reported, but proof is rare Cougar attacks cow in Juneau County Cougar Attacks Horse In Juneau County Cat fights: Cougar sightings spark debate Wisconsin DNR Cougar Sightings website My running route cougar was spotted via Evansville EMS. Source info was posted at the Cooksville Store. The rest of the run was peaceful and I cannot wait to do it again tonight! And I finally got some new running shoes, Saucony: ProGrid Ride 3. Not sure if I like them better than my ASICS: Gel-Nimbus 12, but they’ll definitely get the job done! Gotta run, Chris

Activity Category: Running   Location: Stoughton, WI   Date: 09 Oct 10   Time: 5:03 AM Performance Distance: 10.32 miles   Time: 1:37:07 Speed: 6.4 mph Pace: 9:25 /mi Calories: 1,521

Weather: Calm Eerily Dark w/no Moon   63 °F temp; 67% humidity   52 °F dew point; winds 7.5 WSW

Map

Elevation (ft)

Pace (min/mile)

Splits

Either Needin’ Some New Shoes, Or I’ve Just Been a Couch Potato This Past Week?

So anyhow, tonight’s run was surprisingly painful, which doesn’t make any sense since it was short and slow? However, this week hasn’t been much for running in comparison to my 20 mile per week quota. Actually, this week hasn’t been anything for running. Until tonight, all I’ve done since my 19 Sept run w/Frank The Tank, I must add, is run around the online multiplayer maps of Call of Duty. Running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off in an Xbox game hardly constitutes for actually running! Which is probably one of the factors as to why this run hurt so bad. And the other culprit is most likely worn-out shoes. To date, the pair I wore tonight have 296 miles on them. I’d like to think they’d still be good, but I did log at least 100 miles running with my 30lb backpack this summer. And I’m 190lbs without a backpack, so I never expect much more than 300 miles out of my running shoes anyhow! Either way worn-out shoes, or just a couch potato out for his first run  in a week? It hurt like hell! My back hurt, my legs hurt and it just all around sucked. Moreover, as soon as I stopped my legs felt like they were cramped up. I never feel like this, even after a hard 10 mile run w/hills. I can almost always stop on a dime after running with no muscle aces whatsoever, just a few min’s of heart rate cool-down. It’s hard  to tell for sure if I need new shoes or not? However, the last time I tried to figure this new shoe thing out, I did an experiment by running in boots, which helped me figure things out. However for my next run, I think I’ll just try a different pair of running shoes; perhaps some research by Googling. Therefore, their will not be an experiment with boots on my next run, because just 5 miles eats the skin right off my heels! Gotta run, Chris P.S. Why are you reading this ramble about couch potato’s and worn-out shoes? You must've already read the entire Mitch Rapp series by Vince Fynn.

Activity Category: Running   Location: Stoughton, WI   Date: 25 Sep 10   Time: 7:38 PM Performance Distance: 3.31 miles   Time: 28:59 Speed: 6.9 mph Pace: 8:45 /mi Calories: 488

Weather: Partly Cloudy   55 °F temp; 64% humidity   43 °F dew point; winds 8.6mph NNE

Map

Elevation (ft)

Pace (min/mile)

Splits

This Week’s not Over Yet, One More LSD Run Tomorrow Night

Until now I’ve always maintained 20 miles per week, well usually. Whenever I’d hit 20 in a week I’d shut it down and not run again till the following Monday, starting my 20 all over again. But I’ve decided to try steppin’ my game up, so as of now I’m sitting at 30 miles for this week, with a day left! It’s been hot as hell and I've focused on maintaining a mid 8mm or faster and so far so good. Tonight I was showing signs of weakness up some of the bigger hills, but I maintained that mid 8mm, which means the signs weren't that obvious! Tomorrow night I’m hoping to get in at least 10 miles to put me over 40 and next week I’d like to crank out 50. However, It’s not that easy when your used to only running 20 miles per week. I’ve always dreamt of running 100 miles in a week and this is a few miles closer to that milestone of mine.  Gotta run, Chris

Activity Category: Running   Location: Stoughton, WI   Date: 04 Sep 10   Time: 8:33 PM Performance Distance: 5.63 miles   Time: 47:20 Speed: 7.1 mph Pace: 8:25 /mi Calories: 831

Weather: Awesome   56 °F temp; 68% humidity   45 °F dew point; winds 2.1 mph

Map

Elevation (ft)

Pace (min/mile)

Splits

RAN 9-MILES FOR A HAIRCUT AND MADE A VIRTUAL RUN OF IT AFTERWARDS

Today’s run sucked it was hot as hell, so I sweat like a dog and that made it feel way too long! Especially when compared to this run, which is about the same distance from two days ago. The only difference is today’s dew point was almost 70° and Tuesday's run had a dew point of 52° which makes a huge difference! I have three separate running trips from today, but I’m only posting graphs for this one. The first running trip is the beginning of this one, because as I was running, my BlackBerry crashed. So the run was forced to screeching halt for the first time in months. It must've been stressed, because I was Facebooking, listening to music, running my GPS app, and catching up on the news via UberTwitter all while I was running. So I’m lucky that I didn’t crash! This really sucked though, because I had to wait about 5 min’s for my Bold 9650 to boot-up, so I could start tracking my run again. And that’s where this run starts from. Nothing special just a hot run down a long blacktop highway. (even added a weather graph below) The whole run was just to get a haircut and my barber is in the next town over. So yes, I actually ran to get a haircut today and by the time I got to the barber shop I was soaked. When I walked in I stood and talked for a few minutes and I dripped so much sweat my barber threw me a towel to wipe up the floor. So I guess for what felt like a bad run, was probably one hell of a work out!  I decided to make a virtual run video of today’s run using the DotRacing plugin for SportTracks. SportTracks is the new running software I’ve been using to manage my GPS .gpx files. So please, go ahead and check out the YouTube video below of my virtual run. I’m sure that If you’re a nerd and like stats, graphs and technology, you’ll appreciate this. And if you’re a runner and want to keep track of and look for ways to improve, you’ll equally appreciate this. Just watch in HD and learn… Last, but not least, the third running trip was just a quick run around Oregon after my haircut and then I took a helicopter home. What does it matter to you? I made it home, didn’t I! Gotta run, Chris

Activity Category: Running   Location: Stoughton, WI   Date: 19 Aug 10   Time: 1:49 PM Performance Distance: 7.35 miles   Time: 1:07:48 Speed: 6.5 mph Pace: 9:13 /mi Calories: 1,084

Weather: Hot and sweat won’t evaporate   84°F temp; 59% humidity   68°F dew point; winds 4.1 mph from the South

Map

Elevation (ft)

Pace (min/mile)

Splits

Weather

What a Great Run this Morning after Standing around all day for the 92nd PGA Championship

As  depicted in this photo, I was able to see Tiger Woods golf and had an awesome time at Whistling Straits yesterday. We had VIP tickets so we could go to and hang-out in the Champions Club (at $1200 per ticket, but I didn’t spend a dime) whenever we wanted to. Which with the air conditioning cranked, 45 large 50” tv’s (just a quick count by the way) hung everywhere, we didn’t miss much when grabbing food and drinks! However, after spending all day yesterday at the 92nd PGA Championship, it sure felt good to stretch the legs out for a good run! The run this morning was hot and left us drenched in sweat; nevertheless, it felt great! I ran with a girl that stayed out late and probably drank a little too much, but much to my surprise she held her own. We ran at a comfortable pace, well as comfortable as it gets with the dew point in the 70’s; surely she couldn't have thought it was all that comfy. But she never quit running, maintained a good pace; although I had to run a few wagon wheels to stay together. Oh yeah, I really kicked it down towards the end of the 2nd mile, as you can see in the pace graph bellow. I just wanted a better 3-mile time, but should've thought of that earlier. Now I’m just waiting for a break in temp and a dew point in the 40’s, maybe some consistent 6mm’s?  Gotta run, Chris

Activity Category: Running   Location: Stoughton, WI   Date: 14 Aug 10   Time: 9:24 AM Performance Distance: 4.18 miles   Time: 34:55 Speed: 7.2 mph Pace: 8:21 /mi Calories: 617

Weather: Overcast   86 °F temp; 84% humidity   72 °F dew point; winds 5.7 mph from the West

Map

Elevation (ft)

Pace (min/mile)

Splits

It’s Killer out this Afternoon for Running

It’s possible that I just spent to much time playing MW2 in the AC yesterday and this morning? Never mind, this run was hot as hell, my hat had to come off for the last few blocks! At about mile three I almost drank water from some dogs swimming pool in a front yard! Thankfully, I made it back home without drinking the dogs pool water. What probably got to me, besides the heat was during the first half of the run I charged up a few steep hills, as you can see on the elevation and pace graphs bellow. Maybe I should save the hills for night runs or at least when the dew point isn’t in the 70’s. Gotta run, Chris

Activity Category: Running   Location: Stoughton, WI   Date: 11 Aug 10   Time: 2:03 PM Performance Distance: 4.01 miles   Time: 34:41 Speed: 6.9 mph Pace: 8:39 /mi Calories: 591

Weather: Scattered Clouds   88 °F temp; 71% humidity   60 °F dew point; winds calm

Map

Elevation (ft)

Pace (min/mile)

Splits